Liverpool council chiefs came under fire for increased charges at the city's leisure centres.

A game of squash in Liverpool is #6.10 compared to #4.10 in Manchester and Leeds.

A badminton session is #6.40 in Liverpool, compared to #4.80 in Manchester and #4.30 in Leeds and the cost of a swim for an adult is #2.50 in Liverpool, 60p more expensive than Manchester.

People in Liverpool have been hit by up to 10% rise in the cost of leisure facilities. But in Manchester the cost of keeping fit has risen by just 3% during the last year and in Leeds there have been rises of between 2% and 4%.

Labour leisure spokesman Councillor Suraj Sharma said: "It is a disgrace that the cost of leisure activities in the city has risen by up to 10%.

"The council should be encouraging people to use leisure facilities not putting them off with inflation-busting cost rises."

But Cllr Warren Bradley, Liverpool council's executive member for leisure and tourism, says concessions are available.

"We have introduced concessionary memberships which will affect around 90% of the people using our centres."

Cllr Bradley added that further concessions are planned in the form of a Liverpool Active Pass.

A spokesman for Liverpool council said: "There are high maintenance costs at many of Liverpool's leisure centres which has an impact on admission prices."